Sorry for the delayed post! We’re happy to announce our March lineup. (Oh, and by the way, we are well aware that something is screwy with the font sizing on this blog. It involves something called “CSS”. This does not stand for Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, sadly. We’ll fix it as soon as we are in the same room with our Technical Advisor.)

Please do get there early to make sure you get a seat. Our last two events have been packed and we cannot put more people in the room than the fire regulations allow.

Also, yes, that is Easter Sunday. (We thought about changing the date but it turned into a world o’ confusion so we didn’t.) Also, don’t forget the clocks go forward, though your smart devices are likely to remember that on your behalf. Those of you with non-smart devices may have the joy of explaining to a nearby teenager what it means to “wind a watch”.

After the Quiet Slam in January and the bumper event of February, we’re pleased to be returning to our usual format, but we haven’t let up on the poetry goodness. Oh no, we have NOT. Tonight’s event is being brought to you by the letter M because (if you want to be alliterative about it, and who doesn’t) we have MacLaverty, McKie, a Makar, and an MBE, plus musicians. STOP PRESS! We will have TWO Makars, as Jackie Kay has just been announced as the new Scots Makar.

Jackie Kay was born and brought up in Scotland. She has published five collections of poetry for adults (The Adoption Papers won the Forward Prize, a Saltire Award and a Scottish Arts Council Book Award) and several for children. She was awarded an MBE in 2006.

But none of that describes how entertaining she is as a performer, so you simply must come along and see for yourself. Also, she has an MBE. That’s just nifty. And she’s the new Scots Makar!!! *webmaster expires in excitement*

NEW POET: CIARA MACLAVERTY

Yes, that’s Ciara’s…mug shot. *ba-dum-tish*

Ciara MacLaverty is a Clydebuilt mentee, working with Liz Lochhead (the previous Scots Makar, just to keep that theme going). Her first pamphlet, Seats for landing was well received in 2005, with ‘Peeled’ chosen as a Scottish Poem of the Year 2006. Ciara was among the 12 poets who wrote commemorative poems for Glasgow’s Theatre Royal in 2015, and her poems have appeared in The Scotsman, New Writing Scotland, and Gutter. She blogs about motherhood and writing at ciaramaclaverty.blogspot.co.uk/.

SHORE POETS: CHRISTINE DE LUCA AND JANE MCKIE

Christine De Luca, who writes in both English and Shetlandic, is a native Shetlander who has lived in Edinburgh since student days. She enjoys her dual identity and is the current Edinburgh Makar. Her latest collection is Dat Trickster Sun (Mariscat 2014).

Jane McKie’s first collection, Morocco Rococo (Cinnamon Press), was awarded the 2008 Sundial/Scottish Arts Council prize for best first book of 2007. Her most recent publication is Kitsune.

MUSICIANS: GLADSTONE’S BAG

Well, half of Gladstone’s Bag – Lawrence Dunn and Judith Butters. Gladstone’s Bag was formed in 1993 to play popular light classical music from the Victorian era. They also play “music from the wireless” and provide live music for classic silent films. (Please take a moment to explain to the nearest teenager what a “wireless” is.)

THE LEMON CAKE RAFFLE AND THE WILDCARD SPOT

The lemon cake raffle provides us with much-needed funds, so we very much appreciate your support. And it is a most excellent lemon cake. (Occasionally, we also have poetry books in the raffle, and are very grateful for the donors thereof.)

The wildcard spot is back! If you’re interested, please tell the person at the door when you pay for your entry, and they will put your name in the hat. The wildcard poet will be drawn at the very start of the event and will be able to perform one poem, up to three minutes, so be sure to have your poem ready the moment we kick off.